How to change the keyboard color on your Alienware laptop

You’ve just unboxed your new Alienware® laptop, and while setting it up, you realize the keyboard’s default lighting isn’t quite your style. Maybe it’s too bright for late-night gaming or just doesn’t match your mood. The good news? You can easily make it your own—and we can show you how.

At Asurion, we’re here to help make technology accessible for everyone. Whether you’re creating an immersive gaming environment or just adding a personal touch, this guide will show you how to change your Alienware keyboard color step by step.

Enable RGB on your Alienware keyboard

Alienware laptops are equipped with customizable Red, Green, Blue (RGB) lighting options, but you have to make sure the right settings are enabled. Usually, the system default settings are already set to this option, but if they’re not, you can update the settings in the Alienware Command Center.

Access the Alienware Command Center

The Alienware Command Center should already be installed automatically on your Alienware laptop or when you plug in an Alienware keyboard. You can find it by going to the Start Menu and selecting Alienware Command Center.

If it’s not already installed or if you need to download a new version, you can do so by heading to the Dell Support website. Make sure you have the most recently updated version by navigating to Settings > Windows Update > Check for Updates. Download any necessary updates to avoid compatibility issues.

Navigate to the AlienFX settings

AlienFX is the place where you can control all of the keyboard lighting effects. In the Alienware Command Center, select the FX tab to access the section that allows you to manage lighting settings.

If AlienFX is not already enabled, you can do so by right-clicking on the AlienFX icon in the Windows notification area. Then, select Enable Alienware AlienFX and restart your computer to enable the settings.

Select your keyboard from the device list

In the FX section, you’ll see a device list showing all of the connected compatible devices. Select your keyboard from the device list to customize your desired lighting settings.

Choose your desired lighting effect

AlienFX features a range of different lighting effects, including adjusting the color palette, brightness, tempo, duration, and direction of the lights. You can also manage these lighting settings across multiple connected devices.

Click on the different effect tabs to explore the various lighting effects, such as static patterns or wave patterns, and set them up according to your preferences. You can also create and apply presets to set up lighting effects for different zones on your display and peripherals setup.

Adjust color settings for each key

AlienFX allows you to customize individual keys if you want to apply colors to specific keys. Or, you can apply a uniform color scheme across the entire keyboard.

To change an individual key’s color settings, select the key and use the color picker tool to choose your desired color.

Set up dynamic lighting options

For a more dynamic user experience, you can also enable dynamic effects like assigning color themes to specific games. In the FX tab, select the Themes section and click Create new theme or Edit theme to set up your custom colors. In this panel, you can select different lighting zones to apply your theme or choose from various lighting effects.

Save and apply your changes

Once you’ve adjusted all of your preferred settings, don’t forget to click Save to apply your changes.

Troubleshoot Alienware keyboard issues

You may run into problems while trying to change your keyboard’s color. Here are the answers to commonly asked Alienware keyboard questions.

What do I do if Alienware keyboard lights won’t turn on? 

First, press Fn+F7 to turn the keyboard lights on and off. You can also select the FX tab in the Alienware Command Center and make sure that the GO DIM and GO DARK options aren’t turned on. If that doesn’t fix the problem, try restarting the Alienware Command Center application and the laptop.

How do I reset the Alienware keyboard settings? 

You can reset the Alienware keyboard to factory settings in the Alienware Command Center by navigating to FX and selecting Reset. Or, you can uninstall and reinstall the Alienware Command Center application by downloading the latest version from the Dell Support website.

Can I sync the Alienware keyboard lighting with other devices? 

Yes, you can manage lighting settings across multiple compatible devices using the AlienFX tab. Some of the settings you can control include lighting effects, color palette, brightness, lighting patterns, and more.